(Baukau), Bukoli -President of the Republic Timor-Leste Dr.José Ramos-Horta recently sent a team to provide immediate assistance and committed to build a dignified house for 63-year-old Grandmother Maria da Costa, who has been living alone for a decade in a rock cave in Bucoli, Municipality of Baucau.
The Civil Society and Social Affairs Service Unit (SSSAS) of the Presidency of the Republic, traveled to the site on July 23 to assess and see directly the living conditions of grandmother Maria. Since 2015, after her husband and brother who provided the land to her died, grandmother Maria lived in very precarious conditions, living in a rock hole with a width of only two (2) meters to protect herself from the rain and wind with the presence of the team of Civil and Social Services Unit (ASSAS) The Presidency of the Republic to completely bring this issue to the President of the Republic to build a dignified house for Grandmother Maria in a short time.
Grandmother Maria speaking in her mother tongue (Uai-mua) explained that, “I want to live alone so as not to burden other families, and get help from neighbors who help her only at times with food and basic necessities” said grandmother Maria to journalists and the team of the Civil Society and Social Services Unit (ASSSAS).
The Head of State sent and provided emergency support that included maintenance, basic necessities and financial assistance to meet urgent needs. The Presidency also declared that in the near future, a dignified residence will be built that can provide security and dignity to Grandma Maria, in order to protect her from the problems she has faced for many year’s.
While this action shows the strong commitment of the President of the Republic Timor-Leste to ensure that no citizen is left behind, especially those living in vulnerable conditions and the elderly.
Meanwhile, according to observation, the place where Grandma Maria lives is not suitable for people to live in, because in the rainy season and wind always give her a risk, while Grandma Maria lies in a rock hole with a width of two meters (2) for one person and Grandma Maria’s bed is covered with musketeers and bad box.
Coverage Team
Editor :Manuel Andrade
